Bowbells Man Bags Big Buck

Could Be Top 5 in State History

By: Jim Olson

Posted: Nov 16, 2017 04:59 PM CST

Updated: Nov 16, 2017 10:38 PM CST

Bowbells, ND - A North Dakota hunter bagged what could turn out to be one of the largest whitetails ever measured in the state. Jim Olson went to Bowbells today to meet Kyle Hass, who shot the deer on opening day last week.

Kyle Hass saw him Thursday - the day before the deer gun season began

(Kyle Hass, Bowbells Hunter) "I couldn't believe it it was the biggest deer I've ever seen in my life."

Captured him with his spotting scope

(Kyle Hass, Bowbells Hunter) "Tried to stalk him that afternoon with my bow, which was unsuccessful." (Kyle Hass, Bowbells Hunter) "I didn't think I'd ever see him again - especially after kicking him out on Thursday with my bow I didn't think there'd be any chance of seeing him again."

But Kyle - hunting with his father and best friend - was back out looking for him as the season opened Friday.

(Kyle Hass, Bowbells Hunter) "When Noon rolled around we started walking every slough that we could find in the area - ended up kicking him up about a quarter-mile north."

He got his shot. And he had seen right - it was a big buck.

(Kyle Hass, Bowbells Hunter) "He's one of a kind to be around - you don't see him very often."

Actually, other hunters had seen signs of the monster buck - finding what they believe to be his antlers shed in the past couple of years.

(Kyle Hass, Bowbells Hunter) "They usually get bigger every year"

And the rack taken after the hunt bears that out.

(Kyle Hass, Bowbells Hunter) "There's a lot of points on it - they've got to be one inch to be scorable..."

The official scoring of the rack will happen after a 60-day drying period - and Hass figures it'll be big - maybe big enough to become one of the largest racks of its kind ever taken in North Dakota. It'll certainly go well with some of the other trophies in his garage. The bad news, his gun season ended on day one.

(Kyle Hass, Bowbells Hunter) "I still got the bow tag..." (You're not likely to match what you did here?) "No I don't think I'll ever do that."

We're told Hass's buck may measure about 225 inches - that's not official, but if it hits that mark, it will be the fifth-largest in state history in its category and the largest in ten years.

Hass intends to have the deer mounted at a taxidermy shop in Bismarck.